A Night With the Target Fireworks and Family

The Target Fireworks Show that takes place downtown for the Minneapolis Aquatennial boasts of being one of the top five fireworks shows in the country, and, while I’m no fireworks show “connoisseur” {if that’s even a thing}, I found myself completely amazed. Darrin and I walked with my babiest sister Sophie and my Dad to the Stone Arch Bridge to scope out a fireworks viewing spot over the river. The bridge {and the riverfront in general} was packed with people, but Darrin, with his keen eyesight and determination to escape the crowds, found an open area near the middle of the bridge for our little party of four. The weather and the sunset could not have been more perfect, so we sat along the side of bridge and talked about anything as the crowds shuffled in front of us.

There’s something about the combination of fireworks and family that makes sense to me, as if the one needs the other in order to be experienced “at its finest.” Maybe years of family 4th of July celebrations have welded the two concepts together? Whatever the reason, I don’t think I could ever fully enjoy watching fireworks alone. That holy-smokes-that-was-awesome feeling is just something that has to be shared, and Sophie and I exchanged a few of those classic, did-ya-see-that-one looks that only added to the fireworks-viewing experience. Baby sister Sophie, who’s not much of a baby anymore {!}, will be taking her blue eyes and big smile back down to Iowa once school starts in the fall, and things here in Minneapolis just won’t be the same. Sharing laughs and a sunset and a warm summer night with my not-much-of-a-baby-anymore sister felt like such a nice way to celebrate family and the awesome summer we’ve been sharing together.

Maybe that’s why fireworks and family go hand-in-hand? Family is just something to celebrate. How’s that for corny and truthful? 😉

Once the show ended, we shuffled through the crowd and back to my apartment for some Skittles and video games…because if you’re ever “too old” to play video games, then you’re definitely too old indeed. Darrin tells me that we’ll be having a picnic dinner for next year’s Aquatennial fireworks, and he’s already scoped out a spot on the nearby hill. Apparently it’s never too early to plan your next picnic! 😉